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Target Shooting Success for 2425 (Nottingham Airport) Sqn
Six cadets from 2425 (Nottingham Airport)recently gained their Squadron Marksman awards and one, Cadet Bell achieved his Region Marksman Award. Cadet Bell reported ‘I’ve always wanted to do well at target shooting and have been working towards this for my D of E Skill. I was hoping to be in the Squadrons shooting team for Wing Field day this and my Squadron CO has told me that I definitely am now.’
The cadets were trained by the Squadrons new Weapons Instructor and Range Conducting Officer Sgt Ben Walden ATC ‘I was always interested in Target shooting as a young cadet myself. I had to attended several courses to be able to teach and instruct our cadets on how to safely operate the rifles and feel a real sense of achievement and pride that so many of our cadets are now achieving in this’.
Presentation Evening March 2012
2425 (Nottingham Airport) held their annual Presentation Evening on 02/03/12 which was attended by over 120 cadets, parents, staff and dignitaries. The Squadron was honoured to welcome several important guests, including Wing Commander Dickinson OBE Commanding Officer South and East Midlands Wing, Councilor Mason of Ruscliffe borough council and Lt Coronal Jim Clarke of the Nottingham CCF. as well as representatives from Rempstone Steam and Country Fair, RBL, RAFA and the RAF.
Highlights of the evening included the presentation of a new ‘Venture Adventure’ award given to CI Andrew Redwood who last year did a 2 week trek to Everest Base camp. A rousing speech was given by Flt Lt Ted Akins, who climbed Everest 3 years ago, on the importance of taking adventurous opportunities like those presented to members of the ACO. Also Cdt Sgt Major was presented with a once in a life time opportunity to attend the International Air Cadet Exchange in the Netherlands later this year by Wing Commander Dickenson. Cdt Sgt Major reported – “ I never thought I’d get the chance to attend this, I am so glad I put my self forward for this and really looking forward to spending time with the cadet force and Airforce of the Netherlands.” Click the image to view the photos.
Poppy Appeal Collecting
Once again the Squadron were proud to help with the Poppy Appeal in Ruddington. Click the image to view the photos. In the Morning Mr John Rayner MBE President of the Ruddington Branch went around the cadets who were on duty at the time and gave them a big thank you for their support for the RBL Poppy Appeal 2011 and said they were a credit to their Squadron.
Poppy Launch
On Saturday 29th October three cadets from 2425 Sqn, Flt/Sgt Mullis, Cadet Alvey and Cadet Hollingworth supported the Ruddington Branch of The Royal British Legion’s Autumn Fair and Poppy Appeal Launch. The cadet duties included meeting and greeting at the door, serving tea and coffee and helping with the stalls and after the event they were very helpful with clearing away. A big thank you came from the branch President Mr John Rayner MBE and Chairman Mr Ken Hicks for all their hard work.
2425 Sqn Cadet experience of the Scottish Sailing Expedition 8th – 14 August 2011
This August, Cdt Cpl Robert Abel, aged 18, was amongst 12 cadets from around the British Isles got the fabulous opportunity to be part of a six-day expedition around the Scottish coast and to Northern Ireland with the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland on their 72” yacht, Alba Venturer. Cadet Corporal Abel reports.
Throughout the week we experienced large variations in weather conditions, from no wind to force 6 winds. This meant we were continually changing the sails in rough seas, leading to a steady improvement in how our teams worked together and our knowledge of sailing. Most of the cadets that went on the expedition had minimal – if any, sailing experience; yet by the end of the week, due to working well as a team and helping each other, we all gained the RYA Competent Crew Certificate and sailed the vessel by ourselves for two full days, including the entering and leaving of ports, independent of staff assistance. Throughout the week we were given several drills such as “man overboard” to train us in the event of emergencies as well as being taught how to man a dinghy, learn naval navigation, rope tying and also how control the vessel.
Despite the week being both mentally and physically strenuous, we all thoroughly enjoyed it due to the camaraderie of everyone on board and also viewing some of Scotland’s greatest scenery. My particular favourite was that some of the group were able to see a pod of dolphins swimming along side us, with a backdrop of a rainbow in moonlight when on a night shift.
In all we travelled 270 nautical miles and visited the ports of Tarbert, Greenock, Holy Loch and Bangor (Northern Ireland) throughout the week and, despite half of the group suffering from seasickness, everyone remained fully involved in the working of the vessel and at no point took a back seat.
Myself and everyone else on the expedition and would recommend it without hesitation to any cadet who is willing to push themselves and work closely in a team. Finally, I would like to thank all the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland staff involved for all their guidance on the vessel as well as Mrs. Adelle and Sqn. Ldr. Mike Blakey Glossop from HQ Air Cadets for their help in the organising and leading of the expedition.
Read Air Cadet Magazine Online
Go to the main Air Training Corps website and click the Air Cadet Magazine read it image at the bottom right.
Air Cadet Courses ILM Accredited
We are in the first Wing to have Cadet NCO training courses accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management. The South & East Midlands Wing is now accredited as an Approved Centre – the only ATC Wing to have achieved this accreditation / Approved Centre status. This means that those cadets who attend and successfully pass both the Initial and Advanced NCO courses within South & East Midlands Wing can now receive the ILM Level 2 Award in Team Leading, which is a nationally recognised qualification. Wing is continuing to work with ILM on other initiatives that should result in further nationally recognised qualifications being made available to cadets within South & East Midland Wing.